ABSTRACT The use of residues resulting from the processing of agricultural products is an widely studied topic, which is justified by the need to reduce costs and by the search for productive sustainability, which has as one of its principles the full use production, reducing waste and therefore increasing the amount of products extracted per unit of area. Residual seeds, resulting from the production of fruit pulps, are rich in nutrients and with the potential to be further improved by the application of germination, increasing the protein content and the content of bioactive compounds. However, in the germination process, the product acquires a high water content, requiring immediate drying and control of the water adsorption kinetics after dehydration. Therefore, the objective of this study was to determine the water adsorption isotherms of germinated seeds flours from pumpkins of three varieties at temperatures of 15, 25 and 35 °C, to obtain the most appropriate mathematical model to describe the hygroscopic behavior and to determine the thermodynamic properties of water adsorption, through the values of the integral isosteric heat, differential entropy, differential enthalpy and Gibbs free energy for the studied conditions. The GAB and Peleg models fit the experimental data well. With increasing water activity, there was a reduction in isosteric heat and entropy. The enthalpy-entropy compensation theory was confirmed. Gibbs free energy was negative for all temperatures, increasing with increasing equilibrium water content, demonstrating that it is a spontaneous process.

RESUMO A quantidade e a qualidade da água potável ingerida estão diretamente relacionadas com a saúde humana. A garantia de segurança e potabilidade depende do funcionamento adequado de etapas que vão desde o tratamento até a distribuição; e, caso alguma delas apresente falhas, pode haver processo de contaminação. Partindo desse pressuposto, objetivou-se com o presente trabalho verificar a qualidade microbiológica da água fornecida em bebedouros de escolas públicas e privadas de ensino fundamental e infantil da cidade de Santa Rita, na Paraíba. As análises de coliformes totais, termotolerantes e bactérias heterotróficas foram realizadas segundo os padrões e metodologias da American Public Health Association. Por meio dos resultados deste trabalho, baseados nos padrões contidos na Portaria nº 2.914, de 12 de dezembro de 2011, do Ministério da Saúde, em relação à contagem de coliformes totais, verificou-se que 100% das amostras apresentavam-se impróprias para consumo, enquanto coliformes termotolerantes foram detectados em 33,33% das amostras). A contagem de bactérias heterotróficas variou entre 1,5x102 e 1,6x103 UFC.mL-1, sendo assim, todas as amostras foram consideradas impróprias ao consumo humano. Sugere-se um rigoroso controle de qualidade e a adoção de boas práticas, tais como tratamento da água, limpezas periódicas e manutenção dos reservatórios, filtros e bebedouros, bem como medidas preventivas e corretivas para manutenção da higiene e do controle microbiológico dos reservatórios de água, de forma a ser disponibilizada água com qualidade.

ABSTRACT The quantity and the quality of drinking water intake are directly related to human health. In order to guarantee the safety and potability of drinking water, a series of steps ranging from treatment to distribution must work properly, and if any of them fails, contamination can occur. Based on this assumption, the aim of the present work was to check the microbiological water quality in drinking fountains from pre-school and elementary public and private schools in the city of Santa Rita, Paraíba, Brazil. The analyzes of total coliforms, thermotolerant bacteria and heterotrophic bacteria were carried out according to the standards and methodologies of the American Public Health Association. Based on the standards from Decree 2,914 of December 12, 2011, from the Brazilian Health Ministry, of the total coliforms, 12 samples (100%) were unfit for consumption, and thermotolerant coliforms were detected in 33.33% of the samples. The heterotrophic bacteria count ranged from 1.5x102 to 1.6x103 CFU.mL-1, and as such, all of the samples were unsuitable for human consumption. Thus, we suggest the implementation of a rigorous maintenance process that monitors and controls hygiene and microbiological contamination in the drinking fountains at these locations. Additionally, we recommend the adoption of preventive and corrective measures such as water treatment, regular cleaning and the maintenance of reservoirs, filters and drinking fountains, in order to provide quality water at these schools.